asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many days practical experience is required over what period to gain the tier 1 level 2 boatmasters licence. [HL715]

Two hundred and forty days over a minimum period of 24 months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which businesses carrying passengers on boats on limited coastal operations were consulted during the statutory consultation process leading to the Merchant Shipping (Inland Waterway and Limited Coastal Operations) (Boatmasters' Qualifications and Hours of Work) Regulations 2006 (SI 3223/2006). [HL716]

More than 200 companies, colleges and representative organisations were consulted at each of the two non-mandatory public consultations, and as part of the statutory public consultation.

A list of the consultees from the statutory public consultation can be found at:

www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-guidance-regulation/mcga-consultations/mcga-consultations-archive/archived_consultations_2006/ds-ssb-bmlconsultation2-letteranddocs/ds-ssb-bmlconsultation2-2/ds-ssb-bmlconsultationdoch.htm